To some who stopped at Friday's free, casual event at Ava's on South Potomac Street, Serafini likened catching up to "drinking out of a fire hose."

He said he expected partisanship in Annapolis, where Republicans are firmly a minority in both houses, but added, "I think it was a little stronger than even I anticipated."

Some procedural and logistical uncertainties remain.

"Probably my biggest challenge is I'm still not comfortable with the tunnels," Serafini said, referring to the maze-like, often-used underground connections between the State House and the House and Senate buildings.

Serafini said he'll keep his local office at Williamsport Town Hall, where McKee had it.

Explaining the reception for Serafini, Poffenberger said, "One of the chamber's top priorities is advocacy."

As such, the chamber wants good relationships with its elected officials, he said.

He said the reception was a good way for people to establish rapport with Serafini in a relaxed way.

"You don't want the first time you call someone to be the time you need them," Poffenberger said.